I bought my house a couple of years ago and the stairs leading down to the unfinished basement seem a bit precarious. They're steep with treads about 8 inches deep. Since the basement isn't considered livable space, I'm concerned that when the inspector came, they might not have accounted for these stairs. They appear to have been replaced fairly recently, although the previous owners lived here for 60 years. Now that I want to finish the basement, I'm worried about whether these stairs meet current building codes. Is there someone I can contact to find out if I need to replace or move them?
3 Answers
Check out your local building codes first, but beware—older homes often have grandfathered staircases that don’t meet current standards. It might be helpful to reach out to a general contractor for guidance on the basement project since you’ll need permits for this kind of work. They can also provide insight on the stairs if they’re familiar with the area. Good luck!
Your stairs likely don’t meet current safety codes unless they’re grandfathered in. But if you’re planning to modify or move them, you’ll need a permit and they must comply with the newer codes, which can add to your costs significantly. Just a heads up!
If you're worried about the stairs being sketchy, consider including their replacement in your project. Why put in all the effort and money to make the basement nice when the stairs could make it unsafe and inconvenient? It's definitely worth thinking about how they integrate with your plans for the space.